Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Pashur River Waterkeeper and Dubla Fishermen Group jointly organized a big gathering of the fishermen to protect river Pashur and the Sundarbans at Alorkol, Dubla Island in the Sundarbans on Friday, the 8th of February 2019.

Around 20,000 fishermen stay in this remote island for five months in a year during dry fishing and Hilsha fishing season. Usually they catch fish from the Bay of Bangle and from the rivers around the Sundarbans. This was an awareness campaign among fishermen on how to protect the Pashur river and the Sundarbans. More than 5,000 fishermen along with the CF (Conservator of forest) of Khulna circle and three DFOs from forest department, TNO, OC from police department, Dr. Rezaul Karim, team leader of Friendship hospital and other representatives from local government were present in that gathering. Md. Nur Alam Shekh presided over the meeting and Mr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, general secretary of Dubla Fishermen Group given inauguration speech there.

The honorable deputy minister for the ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar, MP delivered her speech as the chief guest. She has declared the Sundarbans will be given priority to take next projects with climate change fund. She also mentioned government is considering to make a new cyclone shelter in Dubla area and specialized team from her ministry will soon visit the Sundarbans. She has requested who are depending for their livelihood on the Sundarbans, they must be sincere to preserve the bio-diversity there.

From fishermen group they have necessitated a pond in Dubla, which may be helpful to reserve rain water and get their drinking water from it. As Dubla is a remote island and no health care facilities are available there, they have also demanded for some health care facilities for them too.

Dr. Rezaul Karim from Friendship hospital, mentioned with their floating hospital, they are considering to serve these fishermen for few months in Dubla island area.